Article Overview
Takeaway 1: Call the Midwife is praised for its standout cast, who bring engaging character drama to the historical medical series.
2. The show delves into significant political and social issues, such as abortion, racism, religion, poverty, and teen pregnancy.
3. The show provides a platform for each actor, including Helen George and Linda Bassett, to showcase their talents and demonstrate their versatility through involvement in other projects.
In its 12th season, the BBC historical medical drama, Call the Midwife, received high praise for its exceptional cast. Set in London during the late 1950s and 1960s, the show centers around a group of midwives working at the Nonnatus House. It delves into the impact of their work and the patients they care for on both their professional and personal lives. Alongside being a compelling character drama, Call the Midwife tackles thought-provoking political and social issues such as abortion, racism, religion, same-sex relationships, poverty, and teen pregnancy.
Season 12 of Call the Midwife introduces Sister Veronica (Rebecca Gethings), a new nun at the Nonnatus House who forms good relationships with all the staff members except Nurse Phyllis Crane (Linda Basset). Senior Nurse Beatrix "Trixie" Franklin (Helen George) and Matthew Aylward (Olly Rix) tie the knot. Nurse Ann "Nancy" Corrigan (Megan Cusack) faces financial struggles. Shelagh (Laura Main) and Timothy Turner (Max Macmillan) strive to balance their professional and family lives. What sets Call the Midwife apart as one of the finest medical dramas on television is not only the opportunity for each actor to shine but also their exceptional talent displayed in other projects.
Helen George As Nurse Trixie Franklin
Linda Bassett As Nurse Phyllis Crane
Helen George, who portrays Nurse Trixie Franklin in Call the Midwife, is a highly skilled midwife who recently conquered her battle with alcohol addiction. Aside from her memorable role as Trixie, George has made a name for herself in the entertainment industry with notable appearances in various films and TV shows. These include DI Ray as Annalie, Nativity Rocks! as Miss Shelly, Red Dwarf as Aniter, and The Monster as Madeline. She even made a cameo as herself in the Birdy music video for "1901". Not only that, George showcased her dancing abilities on season 13 of Strictly Come Dancing, where she partnered with Aljaž Škorjanec. Furthermore, her exceptional contribution to the Cinderella stage musical cast album earned her a Grammy nomination.
Nurse Phyllis Crane, portrayed by Linda Bassett, is an experienced midwife who dedicates herself to assisting numerous patients. She has gained recognition for her witty and dry sense of humor. In the realm of cinema, Bassett has achieved great success, notably for her roles in movies such as Ella Khan in "East is East," Cora in "Calendar Girls," and Melanie in "Kinky Boots." Additionally, she has made appearances on various television series including Malka Rosen in "Spies of Warsaw" and Mrs. Smike in "The Life and Adventures of Nick Nickleby."
Leonie Elliott As Nurse Lucille Robinson
Leonie Elliot portrays Nurse Lucille Robinson, a Jamaican immigrant who migrated to England with aspirations of becoming a nurse. Despite her evident skills and dedication towards patient care, Nurse Lucille frequently encounters racial prejudice from her patients. Prior to joining the cast of Call the Midwife in its seventh season, Elliot played smaller supporting roles in various television shows such as Fee in The Break, Natalie Stubbs in Casualty, and Fiona in Black Mirror. Additionally, she has made appearances in television movies like Cherry Patterson in Danny and the Human Zoo and Hollie in Killed by My Debt.
Laura Main As Shelagh Turner
Playing the character of Shelagh Turner, Laura Main is known for her role as a former nun who chose love over the church by marrying Dr. Turner. Currently working as a midwife at Nonnatus House, Main has also gained recognition for her portrayal of Detective Constable Alison Bain in the British crime series, Murder City. Her notable appearances in television include Roots & Fruits as Pak Choi, Rebecca Howlett in The Mill, and Dorothy Underwood in Father Brown.
Jenny Agutter As Sister Julienne
Jenny Agutter is renowned for her portrayal of Sister Julienne, a highly esteemed and revered nun at the Nonnatus House. In addition to her esteemed role, Agutter has garnered immense recognition for her contributions to the world of cinema. She has prominently featured in several iconic movies, including Logan's Run where she took on the role of Jessica, and An American Werewolf in London where she skillfully embodied Nurse Alex Price, leading to a commendation with a Saturn Award nomination. Furthermore, contemporary audiences recognize Agutter for her outstanding performance as Councilwoman Hawley in The Avengers and Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Judy Parfitt As Sister Monica Joan
Sister Monica Joan, portrayed by Judy Parfitt, is one of the pioneering female midwives in England. From the early days of Nonnatus House, she dedicated herself to the profession, even though she eventually retired due to dementia. Parfitt, a highly esteemed British actress, boasts an extensive career that includes notable performances in renowned films such as Vera Donovan in Dolores Claiborne, Queen Marie in Ever After: A Cinderella Story, and Queen Gertrude in the 1969 adaptation of Hamlet. She has also left her mark in television, portraying characters like Mrytle in Up the Women and Hester Waterhouse in The Game.
Megan Cusack As Nancy Corrigan
Megan Cusack portrays Nancy Corrigan, a young Irish woman who was raised in a Catholic orphanage and is currently receiving training at Nonnatus House to become a professional midwife. Apart from her role in Call the Midwife, Cusack has only been involved in two other projects: The Cherry Orchard, where she played Dunyasha, and Doctors, where she portrayed Lucie Aylesbury. She also made an appearance on the morning talk show Lorraine in 2022.
Rebecca Gethings As Sister Veronica
Making her debut in the season 12 premiere of Call the Midwife, Rebecca Gethings portrays Sister Veronica, a fresh member of Nonnatus House. Gethings has garnered notable roles in various television series and films, including Helen Hatley in The Thick of It, Lizzie in Extras, Miriam Clark in David Brent: Life on the Road, and Queen Eleanor in The Serpent Queen. Additionally, she lends her voice to characters such as Charlotte, Crisitna, and Hsiao in the Vampyr video game.
Zephryn Taitte As Cyril Robinson
Cyril Robinson, portrayed by Zephryn Taitte, is a skilled car mechanic who aspires to become a civil engineer. He immediately falls in love with Lucille upon their first encounter and their relationship blossoms, culminating in their marriage during the festive Christmas special. Taitte is notably recognized for his memorable portrayal of Dorian in the popular web series Brothers with No Game. Additionally, he has showcased his talent in various television shows such as Unforgotten, where he portrayed the character of Scott, Father Brown, where he played Father Featherstone, Urban Myths, where he portrayed Anthony, and The Hour, where he took on the role of Reginald Thomas.
Georgie Glen As Miss Higgins
Call The Midwife Supporting Cast
Georgie Glen, known for her roles in popular TV shows such as "Les Misérables" as Abbess, "The Crown" as Ruth Lady Fermoy, "Ridley" as Dr. Wendy Newstone, and "Waterloo Road" as Audrey McFall, portrays Miss Higgins, the receptionist at Dr. Turner's hospital. Additionally, she has appeared as Adult Mildred in the Cartoon Network series "Summer Camp Island."
Dr. Patrick Turner, portrayed by Stephen McGann, is a skilled surgeon dedicated to providing exceptional care to the midwives of Nonnatus House. McGann, widely recognized for his role as Sean Reynolds in the British soap opera Emmerdale, has also garnered attention for his performances in TV shows such as Grushko (as Andrei), The Hanging Gale (as Daniel Phelan), and Doctors (as Bernard Stephenson).
Cliff Parisi portrays Fred Buckle, a friendly shopkeeper who is always willing to assist the midwives of Nonnatus House whenever they need a helping hand. Parisi is most notable for his role as Minty Peterson in the popular British soap opera, EastEnders. In addition to his soap opera fame, he has also appeared in various films and TV series such as Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators as Dennis Regan, Plebs as Fulvio, and All Those Small Things as Nick.
Annabelle Apsion takes on the role of Violet Buckle, a dedicated dressmaker who eventually becomes a Councilor due to her unwavering commitment to her community. Apsion gained recognition for her portrayal of Monica Gallagher in the British version of Shameless, and she has also impressed audiences with her performances in other TV shows including Doc Martin as Jennifer Cardew, Holby City as Jean Rimini, and The Halcyon as Lillian Hobbs.
Daniel Laurie portrays Reggie Jackson, a young boy who resided with the nuns at Nonnatus House after his mother's passing. Eventually, he was adopted by Fred and Violet Buckle. Alongside his role in Call the Midwife, Laurie has also showcased his talent in four other television ventures: Finding Alice, where he portrayed Zack; The Dark Tower, in which he played Sheemie; Vera, where he portrayed Adam Beecher; and Stella, where he appeared as Jamie.
As for Alice Brown, she embodies the character of Angela Turner, the young daughter of Shelagh and Patrick Turner, who was adopted by them in the fourth season. Due to her tender age, Brown's participation in Call the Midwife marks her sole acting credit, and she has not been involved in any other projects.
April Rae Hoang portrays May, a Chinese refugee who was sent to England for adoption but was never collected by her foster family. The Turners decided to adopt her, and since then, May has formed a close bond not only with Shelagh and Patrick but also with her adopted sister, Angela. Apart from her role in Call the Midwife, Hoang has appeared in two other projects: the film A Christmas Number One, where she portrays Lily, and the TV show Tell Me Everything, where she plays Alix.
Max Macmillan takes on the role of Timothy Turner, the biological son of Patrick, who aspires to become a doctor like his father. Macmillan's only other credit is in the film The Song of Names, where he portrays a character named Peter Stemp. Additionally, Macmillan has worked as an assistant camera operator in an upcoming short film titled Horizon: The Truth Emerges.
Olly Rix portrays Matthew Aylward, initially introduced as a one-time character in season 10, but gradually emerging as a pivotal figure after marrying Trixie Franklin. Rix is widely known for his television work, having starred in acclaimed series such as Of Kings and Prophets as David, Our Girl as Bones, The Spanish Princess as Edward Stafford, and The Musketeers as Navas.
Dame Vanessa Redgrave embodies the character of Jennifer Worth, the main protagonist in the first three seasons of Call the Midwife, who later departs to wed Phillip Worth. Nevertheless, Jennifer continues to correspond with the members of Nonnatus House through letters, all of which are artfully narrated by Redgrave. As an esteemed British actress, Dame Vanessa Redgrave boasts numerous accolades, including an Oscar for her role in Julia, two Emmys for Playing for Time and If These Walls Could Talk 2, and a Tony for her performance in Long Day's Journey into Night.
Editor's P/S
The cast of Call the Midwife is one of the things that makes the show so special. The actors are all incredibly talented and they bring their characters to life in such a way that makes you feel like you're right there with them in Poplar.
The show also delves into some very important political and social issues, such as abortion, racism, religion, poverty, and teen pregnancy. These issues are handled with sensitivity and care, and they provide a valuable insight into the lives of the characters and the time period in which the show is set.
Overall, I think the cast of Call the Midwife is one of the best on television. They are all incredibly talented and they bring their characters to life in such a way that makes you feel like you're right there with them in Poplar. I can't wait to see what they do in future seasons.